Air Traffic Furloughs Could Lead To Flight Delays

CHICAGO (CBS) — The FAA says to expect flight delays and cancellations around the country, including Chicago.

About 10 percent of air traffic controllers are starting to take forced days off, as part of the sequestration, or mandatory federal budget cuts.

Flight delays caused by the shortage of controllers have begun at some airports. Delays of more than an hour were reported last night at New York’s Kennedy and LaGuardia airports, WBBM Newsradio’s Terry Keshner reports.

Some of the biggest delays are expected at O’Hare International Airport. However, as of 9 a.m., flight operations were running normally.

The cuts are affecting 30,000 commercial flights a day.

Former National Transportation Safety Board chairman Mark Rosenker says travelers can expect delays of “anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes, and in some cases three to four hours, if it gets too crowded in the skies.”

Experts say the best advice is to book early and try for the first flight of the day.